Process for the manufacture of synthetic yarn



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PROCESS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SYNTHETIC YARN` I lQILgiI'lELl Filed July 14. 1942 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Patented Nov. 5, 1946 Pnooess Fon 'rue MANFACTURE or v SYNTHETIC YARN g Herbert 0. Naumann, Englewood,'N.-J., ,assignervk to North American Rayon Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Original application July 14, 1942, Serial No. 450,934. Divided and this application .lune 3,

194s, sena1No.4s9,555

' (el. .1e- 54) 3 Claims. l This invention relates to the manufacture of threads of synthetic originand is more particularly concerned with a process and apparatus for the continuous manufacture of Wet spun threads. Continuous spinning., as the name implies, comprises the introduction of a, hydrated colloid into a spin bath to form a thread the after-treatment of successive portions of the freshly formed thread While it is moving from the spin hathl to a point of collection and the collection of the completely nished thread into a commercially saleable package. v f

VThe very nature of continuous operation renders the handling of the thread, for instance fromone treating unit to another or during the exchange of. an empty bobbin for a full one, extremely diiiicult. :Def-t and accurate handling of the thread during these periods is of extreme importance and demands the exercise of unusual precautions to avoid loss `of time and waste of materials.

One of the objects of this invention is to reduce to a minimum the time required for the transfer of the thread from one element of the machine to another and hence avoid any more loss of pro-v duction than is absolutely necessary for the transfer.

Another Yoloject is to properly support the thread at all times, i. e., during the threading-up of the machine or'during the exchange of a full bohbin for an empty one and hence facilitate the handling ofthe thread during such periods so. as to avoid undue Waste.

The above and other objects may be attained by employing thisY invention which embodies among its features forming a thread, leading the formed thread through varicus stages of treatment, temporarily` collecting the threadvinto a waste bundle betweenl its peint of origin and its point of collection, meanwhile performing an intra-related thread-handling operation such as transferring the thread from one unit to another or exchanging a full thread package for an empty one, separating the waste bundle from the oncoming thread and directing the oncoming threadto successive elements of the machine for further manipulationr Another feature of the invention is a collecting device movable from station to station on the machine upon which the oncoming thread may he wound preparatory to or While it is being transferred from one element of the machine to another and means to arrest the collecting device. and hold it in proper relation to the elements of a station.

Other advantages of this invention will be Figure 3 is a view inside` elevation illustratingk a portion of the left or .''nishing side of the machine of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a schematic'perspective view of a typical driving arrangement for the spinning :lachine shown in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive;

Figure 5 is. a top plan view vof the entire mechanism for transporting thread from one lto the other side of the spinning machine of Figu'rel during threading up thereof, and underlying thread-storage, thread-advancing units being c omitted for convenience in illustration;

Figure 6 is a top plan view partially in section, takenalong the line 6--6 of Figure 1 and serving toY further illustrate the mechanism shown in Figure 5 ;I

` Figure "7 is a fragmentary plan view of the operating deck with which the leftv side of the spinning machine'of Figure lis provided ;l

.Figure 8 is a perspective view of the ring twister threading apparatus used in conjunction with the present invention; l

Figure 9 is a View in longitudinal section of a temporary thread collecting device used in conjunction With the threading up of the ring twister shown in Figure 8 n Figure l0 is a view in section taken along the line lil-i8 of Figure 9 Figure l1A is a view in sec-tion taken along the line i ll l of Figure 9;

'Figure l2 is an end view, partially in section, of aspinning machine constructed according to this invention but somewhat modied for convenient attachment to pre-existing spinning equipment;I y

Figure 13 is a view in side elevation illustrating a portion of the right or spinning side of the machine of Figure 12, one godet driving connection being shown in section.

Referring novv in detail to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, it will be seen that the spinning machine y illustrated includes a number of spinning units, each-consisting basically of a spinneret l0 and a pair of thread-storage, thread-advancing devices i i and i2. On devices H and l2, the freshly iormedthread is subjected to all required aftert'reatments', whereupon it is concurrently twisted and collected on twisting spindle I3 in nished form. For convenience in illustration, all of the component units of vacontinuous spinning machine constructed according to the present invention have not been illustrated. It is contemplated, however, that a single machine include some 50 to 70 spinning unitsarranged in alignment as illustrated. While it will be increasingly evident upon consideration of the following description that this invention is adaptable to any type of wet spinning operation. involving the preparation of a thread in the form of a hydrated colloid, the apparatus will be specifically discussed in conjunction with the manufacture of viscose rayon.

Upon reference to Figure 2, it will be seen that all of the spinnerets I9 are disposed in a single common spin bath container I4 which extends for the -full length ofthe machine. The spinnerets are -inounted on the front wall of bath container I 4 in the usual manner which permits individual removal of aspinneret in case of localized operating difficulty. A gear pump I5 is associated witheach spinneret I9 serving to supply viscose solution under pressure to thespinneret through the usual filter I5. So that each spinneret will extrude a thread of like characteristics, all of the gear pumps I are driven from` a common power source suchf'a's an' electric motor' "I1, see Figure 4. Each pump I5 is' provided with a gear `I8 meshingwith a gear I9, all of the latter being keyed to acommon shaft 29,1'iavirf1gon one end thereof -a'driving gear-2|. The rotor shaft of motor I1 carries a sheave 22 connected-by a belt 23 with a sheave24 keyed on a shaft 25, which, additionally, carries a driving gear 25. A gear train consistingl'of gears 21, 28,V 29 and 30 serves to connectgearii Aand gear 2| sov as toestablish a driving connectiontothe various pumps I5. It is apparent thatalthough, at any vone speed of shaft 25, the deliveryV of all .pumps I5 will .be uniform, the *speedy ofi shaft 2`0"may. be varied by substituting gears of different diameters in gear train 21,`

2,9, 29, 3Std bring about changes in denier von the part of thevthread extruded through spinnerets I0 by alteration in pump pressure. Y

At spaced points along. the lengthof the 'rear vfall'efl spin yhath container .|4, godets 3| are provided, each of these consisting of a driven wheel 32 and afreely rotatable one 33. The thread'issuing from each-'spinneret I9 is rst led around there'sp'ective Ygodet 3| then to the threadstorage, thread-advancing Ii I. Alternatively, the-thread maybe ledl fromgodet 3| through a bath trough 34 structurally similar to troughV I4,

but adapted to contain hot water or hot acid depending upon the chemical requirements in any particular instance In trough 34 the thread is passed arounda freely rotatableguide 35 and then ledto thread-storage, thread-advancing unit II. t'will be understood that the use of trough 34 or its elimination is entirely a matter of the chemistrygof `'thread treatment since, in a mechanical sense,.the thread may -be led with equal ease directlyfromgodet 3| to thread-storage, threadadvancing unit II or passed through trough 34 underroller 35. Since the driven wheel 32 of each; godet 3| `is connected with a vertical shaft 35 havingv al gearY 31 attached at the lower end thereof and since all gears 31 are driven from similargears 38spaced alongshaft 39, it is evident that all the godets 3| will have the same takeup orperipheral speed derived from a common source,` Since the spinning machine 'ofthe present inventionl is adaptable to the manufacture of threads of widely varying characteristics, it is evident that the amount of stretch to be imparted to the thread in any particular instance may also vary. For this reason, shaft 39 is connected through gear 49 (Fig. 4) to gear 4| on the delivery side of a connoid drive variable speed transmission 42 of any conventional type. This transmission is driven from a gear 43 keyed on shaft 25 through a gear 44. Since motor I1 drives shaft 25, it is apparent that godets 3| and pumps i5 are driven from a common power source although the speed of each is independently adjustable. From the godet 3|, around the wheels of which the thread is wound several times to prevent slipping, each thread is led to its respective thread-storage, thread-advancing unit I either directly or through bath trough 34. As can be seen in the drawings, each unit I is comprised of two generally horizontally extending rollers45 and 46.

Although rollers 45 and 49 both extend generally horizontally, it is the usual practice to dispose theaxis of roller 4B in a truly horizontal direction while that of roller 45 is slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal so that the axes of the two rollers constituting a unit II will lie in intersecting planes. Thus, drive shaft 41, which extends axially from roller 46, is truly horizontal. This shaft is provided with a gear 48 which meshes with a gear 49 on a main drive shaft 50. As is the case with shaft 39, shaft 50 traverses the entire machine and is provided with a number of gears 49 corresponding to the number of rollers 45 which must be driven. A housing 5| surrounds gears 43 and 49 to protect the same from dirtand to provide support for bearings 52 and 53 in which shaft 41 is mounted. Housing 5I is supported in fixed position on a rigid frame member 54 held in position by any suitable means. not shown.

In connectionwith roller 45, a somewhat similar arrangement is employed, this roller being provided with an axial shaft 55 supported in bearings 56 and 51 in turn supported in'a housing 58.

Within'housing 58 is a main drive shaft 59, extending for the entire length of the machine. Gears' 69 are located at spaced points along this shaft, one meshing with each of gears 5I keyed to respective shafts 55.

Inasmuch as roller 45 does not extend in atruly horizontal direction, it is evident that this roller will, when properly disposed with respect to roller 46, cause thread wound in a coil around the two rollers to move axially of the unit. The theory of operation of two-roller thread-storage, threadadvancing units is the familiar one that thread drawn onto a roller will approach the same at a right angle to the direction ofjpull which is, of course, from the axis thereof. Thus, if roller 45 is slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal so that thelaxis thereof and that of roller 46 converge in the direction of their unsupported ends, thread wound around the two rollers will necessarily progress in the direction of convergence, i. e., toward the unsupported end of the unit. Since the spacing between adjacent connected coils is a function of the angle of convergence, it is also evident that the angle will speed. Thus, in the interest of accurate control' of the duration of the treatments to be accom- .plished on unit lI I', the position of the ams of roller 45 is rendered adjustable. To this end, each housing 58 is provided with an arcuate Cover portion i132 which surrounds the upper portion of and rests upon a tubular support 63 which extends for the full length of the machine and serves to carry in like manner all of the housings 58. Since tubular support 63 will carry considerable load it is contemplated that at spaced points along its length it be Ysuitably held from any convenient portion ofthe main frame of the machine. Shaft 53 is centered within tubular support E3, the latter having slots therein ,at spaced points along its length to permit meshing of gears B and 6I, as .may `be seen in Figure 1.

.Since all of the housings ,58 float on tubular support 63, it is evident that they are rotatable thereabout. Similarly, since shaft 59 .is centered in tubular support 53, it is equally evident that housing 58' may be rocked without interfering with the meshing of gears to and E I, the arcuate slots in the underside of tubular support 83 being of sufficient amplitude to permit considerable angular displacement of the housings 58. Because each housing 58 contains bearings 55 and 51 of shaft 55 any movement of the former about tubular support .63 will, of necessity, alter the anguiar disposition of the latter. The adjustments, of course, involve only a slight angular displacement of housing 58. This is effected' by turning a shaft 64 having an end bearing 55 which is pivotally attached to a support 65a. Shaft ed is provided with a threaded area over which a nut is passed. This nut is pivotally attached between the depending arms of a bifurcated member 66 attached to the bottom of and extending downwardly from housing B. The free end ofshaft 64 is located adjacent a removable dust cap t1 and is adapted for engagement by a driving tool, operated from the front of the machine, such as a wrench. Thus, when shaft Gli is rotated, bifurcated member t6 through its nut is moved either closer to or further away from pivoted end bearing 55 of said shaft @Il depending upon the direction of rotation. Movement of biiurcated member B'I toward end bearing S5 tends to cause lowering of the unsupported end of roller G5, while movement in the other direction has the reverse effect. In either case, housing li'is pivoted about tubular' support 53 to change the angular position of shaft 55 and cylinder 45 concentrically mounted thereover. Since a screw is used to alter the position of shaft 55, it is evident that the adjustment is self-locking.

As illustrated in Figure 2, rollers l5 and le which constitute 4unit EI are arranged in such a way that their axes lie in the same vertical plane but are convergent in the direction of the unsupported end of the unit. This is convenient from the standpoint of space economy, but is not essential. It is evident that the axial feeding theory will likewise obtain in any arrangement involving at least two rollers, the axes of which lie iny intersecting planes.

The thread leaving the godet 3l is first led on to the upper cylinder Q5 of unit I I over a guide roller lili, located adjacent the supported end of cylinder said guide roller being supported on a bracket extending from collection trough 69 which underlies roller d5. It is led off of the opposite side of upper roller d5 of unit I'I, under a guide roller il) adjacent the free end of the unit, over a guide roller 'II and from thence over a guide roller J8 to a thread-storage, threadadvancing unit I2 which is mountedon the 'opi contiguous or superimposed convolutions.

posite side of the machine. Guide roller 'I0 is sup'- ported on a bracket extending upwardly from collection trough l2 underlying roller 46, while guide roller 'il is supported on a bracket attached to a portion of the machine frame. The path of the thread to .and from unit .II is shown in Figure i, the spaced coils wound around the two rollers being omitted for convenience in illustration, see Patent No. 2,194,470 to Hartmann et al. It will be understood of course that treating liquids are supplied to the yarn on the rollers d5 and at by supply pipes L232 and 234 respectively.

' En the operation of the machine, it is evident that the rollers S5 and d6 must be driven at the same peripheral speed. This is best done by driving shafts 5i) and 59 (Fig. 4) in synchronism from a common power source or by driving one shaft from the other. Shafts and 59 are provided with pinions 'i3 and 14, respectively, of like size, both pinions meshing with a driving gear 'iii driven from a gear I8 on main power shaft 25. While it is important that the peripheral speeds of rollers l5 and E be identical, it is evident that their talreup speed may kbe in excess of the delivery speed of the adjacent godet 3| so that stretching may occur between each unit II and its associated vgodet 3l'. Arrows in Figures 1, 2

and 4 serve to illustrate the direction of rotation of the rollers of unit II.

It will be recognized that the axial movement of the coils of thread from the supported toward the unsupported end of thread-storage, thread-advancing device II will occur only after that device has been threaded up. To do this it is, of course, first necessary to initiate rotation of shafts 5i) and 59, which, through the intermediate gearing, cause rotation of shafts 'i and and the rollers E and d5, carried thereby. This is done by starting motor I'I, which action likewise causes operation of the pumps I5 as well as godets 3l. At this stage, the spinning solution is extruded from each spinneret l5. The operator then grips the material issuing from the spinneret, pulls it up from the bath and winds the resulting thread several times around godet wheels 32 and melting enough convolutions to prevent slipping. The thread is then led from the godet, and wound around rollers 45 and in the form of a closed coil consisting of a number of This coil may be wound near the supported end of the unit i! in which case it will move as a body to the unsupported end of the unit and the successively spun thread will be wound on in a position determined by the angular disposition of the roller 45. As the coil begins to move toward the unsupported end of unit l, the operator drops the connecting thread into freely rotatable guide roller t3 so that each newly formed coil will'be located `directly adjacent the supported end of the unit. When the closed coil reaches the unsupported end of the unit l I, the thread is broken between the co-il and the spaced convolutions on the roller and the coil is removed and discarded.

' The resulting free end of thread is then led un- Upon consideration of Figur-es l yand' 2r, it willbe seen that some difficulty may be encountered in vwinding a closed coil around rollers 45 and 46 near their supported ends because of bath. trough 72. It is entirely possible to mount bath trough I2, however, in such a Vway that it may be tilted to a position sufficiently vspaced from the roller so'as to obviate interference with threading up as previously described. The tilting of trough "i2, while of convenience in some installations, isinfno sense essential. VIn Figure l it can be fseenthat the free end of roller 4S extends beyond the end of trough l2.v When this arrangement is used, any of the thread-storage, threadadvancing units may be threaded up by winding the closed coil adjacent the unsupported end thereof and manually leading the connecting thready over freely rotatable guide roller 58. If this is done, a stop guide 'lq1 must be used to prevent the coil from running off the end of the unit while it is threading itself. In Figure 2 it can be seen that guide 'i9 is in the form of a porcelain loop pivotally attached to a bracket aflixed to trough 69. In the full line position of Figure `2, guide 19 functions to prevent the thread loop from moving axially off the end of theunit. When not in use, guide 'i9 may be manually swung to the broken line position of Figure 2 `where it will no longer Contact the thread connecting tangentially rollers i5 and 46.

When the closed coil is wound adjacent the free end of unit Il, around cylinders 45 and 4B, the threading action of the unit is brought about by the winding of additional coils of newly spun thread thereon and by the pulling of a few of the convolutions off of the closed coil in the direction of the supported end of the unit, the latter occurring when the takeup speed of the thread-storage, thread-advancing device is in excess of the speed of delivery of the thread thereto. As threading up commences, the spacing between coils will be relatively great, but will grad-- ually lessen until the spacing predetermined by the angular adjustment of roller 45 has been reached. At this time, the closed coil can be broken off and discarded and the thread led to a new stage as, for example, `temporary collecting device 'I1 in the case ofaunit l I While the foregoing description of threading up has been confined to the threading up of unit il, it is evident that exactly the same procedure may be followed in the case of unit I2. Thus, the

trough underlying the lower roller of each unit l2 may be moved away from the roller to permit threading up by winding a closed coil adjacent the supported end of the unit 0r a guide such as guide 19 may be used to permit winding the closed coil adjacent the unsupported end of .the unit. Neither of these is illustrated in Figure l. It is contemplated, however, that a guide such as ,guide 19 be associated with the trough of the upper roller of unit l2 in the same manner that guide 'I9 is associated with trough B9.

After the thread-storage, thread-advancing unit l! has been threaded up, it has been stated that the thread is carried from a point adjacent the free end of that unit to a point adjacent the supported end of thread-storage, thread-advancing unit l2 so that the latter may be threaded up in the manner previously described. This movement is effected by leading the free end of thread from thread-storage, thread-advancing unit il to a smalll rotating cylinder. 'l1' constituting a temporary collecting device. Collecting device 11 is supported by and driven through suitable gearing fromda motor 80. Thus, the free end of thread is wound around rotating temporary collecting device Tl, and motor 80, with the temporary collecting device, is bodily moved from right to left as viewed in Figure 1 so that temporary collecting device 'Il is positioned adjacent the supported end of thread-storage, thread-advancing unit l2. The peripheral speed of the small cylinder 'Il constituting the temporary collecting device is so correlated with the speed of bodily movement of the temporary collecting device across the machine from right t0 left in Figure l that the cumulative takeup effective at the free end of unit Il is very slightly in excess of the delivery speed of that unit. In this way, the occurrence of slack is avoided while thethread is not subjected to excessive tension.

So that a plurality of adjacent pairs of threadstorage, thread-advancing units may be threaded up with maximum convenience, another small cylindrical temporary collecting device 8l is disposed in horizontally oiTset position with respect to device 11 a distance equal to the space between the axes of adjacent units. Device 8| is supported and driven from a motor 82 of structure and functional characteristics similar to motor .85). Upon reference to Figures l and 5, it can be seen that collecting devices 'l1 and 8| are normally disposed on opposite sides of the machine. Thus, when collecting device 'H is overlying a thread-storage, thread-advancing device Il, temporary collecting device 8| is in a similar position over an adjacent thread-storage, thread-advancing device I2.

Upon reference now to Figures 2 and 3, the manner of threading up a machine by the use of collecting devices 11 and 8l may be ascertained. In Figure 2, temporary collecting device 'Il is disposed above a thread-storage, thread-advancing unit Il designated by the reference letter A. At the same time, temporary collecting device 8l is over a thread-storage, thread-advancing device I2 in aligned position behind the unit H marked B on Figure 2. When unit A has been threaded up, the operator leads the free end of thread around temporary collecting device Tl. which is driven by motor 8d continuously throughout the threading up period. Thereafter, motor 8B is bodily moved to the opposite side of the machine, carrying with it the thread issuing from unit A which is being concurrently wound on device l1. At the same time, temporary collecting device 8l is moved toward the operator on the spin bath side of the machine to a position over unit B similar to the position previously occupied by temporary collecting device 11 over unit A. Thus, one operator on the spin bath side of the machine may be threading up a unit B while another operator on the finishing side may be threading a unit l2 in alignment with the unit l l marked A.Y In this way, both of the operators are continuously occupied. It will, of course, be understood that when the temporary collecting device completes its bodily movement across the machine, it will have wound thereon a very small amount of thread. This is treated as waste and the thread is broken by the operator directly adjacent the collecting device and led around the thread-storage, thread-advancing unit in question in a manner previously described. After the unit B of Figure 2 has been threaded, the position of temporary collecting devices Tl and 8l is again reversed. The operator then breaks thet thread adjacent temporary collecting device 8l and begins threadingV the lunit l2 which is inalignment with unit B of Figure 2. 'I'hreadstorage, thread-advancing unit'H, in its return movement from the finishing side to the spinning side of the machine, carries no thread over to a point above unit A since this unit has already been threaded. Accordingly, immediately after breakage of the thread adjacent temporary collecting device 8l, as the operator starts to thread the unit i2 behind B of Figure the entire assembly supporting temporary collecting devices l? and 8| is moved to the right of Figure 2 a distance equal to twiceY the distance between the centers of adjacent units. This brings collecting device 'l'l over unit marked C and device 8| over a unit l2 behind and in alignment with unit D. When this stage has been reached, the previously described operation is repeated and so on until the entire machine is threaded up.

It has been stated that motors SQ and 82 and the temporary collecting devices supported and driven thereby are bodily moved across the width of the machine. This movement is effected by the concurrent rotation of oppositely threaded screws 83 and 8d (Figs. 5 and 6) supported in rectangular frame 85 and in respective driving engagement with interiorly threaded members 88 and @l which surround the threaded shafts E3 and 8d and have depending Shanks 8i# and 39 which serve to support motors 83 and 82, respectively. To prevent pivotal movement of motors Sii and c2 and the assemblies carried thereby about threaded shafts 83 and 84 as axes, brought about b y the rotation of those shafts, members |36 and 8l are provided with arms si! and @l extending in mutually convergent relation at right angles to respective shanks E8 and 88. The free ends of arms Sil and @i are slotted and receive therein a guide rail 92 which extends for the full width oi the machine and is suitably supported in frame S5.

Since shafts 83 and 8d are oppositely threaded, it will be apparent that, if both are driven, members 3c and 8l will move across frame S5 in opposite directions carrying with them the respective motors 8|) and 82 and temporary collecting devices l? and 6|.

The intermittent rotation of shafts 83 and 54 is effected through a reversible motor S3, the rotor shaft of which is provided with a pinion 94. Pinion 9d is operatively connected to threaded shaft E3 thro-ugh an idler gear e5 which meshes with a gear QS keyed to threaded shaft 83. A similar gearing arrangement including an idler Si and a gear 93 keyed to shaft Se serves to establish a driving connection between the latter and pinion 9G. Conveniently, the gearing connecting the rotor of motor 93 and shafts 83 and 8d is enclosed in a dust-proof housing 99. It can now be seen that for any given direction of rotation of motor S3, members 85 and fil will be driven in opposite directions. It is necessary, however, that the direction of bodily movement of collecting devices 'l'l and 8| be reversed each succeedingf operation thereof. It is for this reason that motor 93 is of a reversible type. The exact construction of motor S3 formsy no part of this invention, it being contemplated that any conventional reversible electric motor of suitable characteristics may be used. The motor is controlled through va circuit, not shown, from a pair of push bottoms l-ilil and lill (Fig. 1), each of which serves to drive the motor in one direction only. The stoppage of motor @3 is effected automatically by a pair of limit switches of any conventional construction disposed on opposite sides of bar Q2 adjacent one of its ends, one switch being in the path of 10 each of arms 9|) and 9|. Thus, for example, the rotation of motor 58 in one direction may be stopped when armL 93 reaches a predetermined position and the rotation in the other direction may be; stoppe'dvwhen 4arm 9| reaches similar predetermined position at the same end of frame ce. Since motor 93 will necessarily develop a certain amount of inertia in operation, it is highly desirable that the stoppage thereof be eiected instantaneously to' prevent possible damage of the equipment caused yby either of members Sii or el' exceeding the full amplitude of movement on screws S3 and 8d.. This is conveniently done by providing a magnetic brake H32 (Figs. 2 and 5) the control circuit for which is in circuit with the limit switches. This brake |832 is conveniently located on the end of the rotor shaft of motor 93 opposite pinion 9d.

The bodily movement of temporary collecting devices 'l'land 8| across the machine has now been described. It has been previously stated, however, that frame is subject to bodily movement lengthwise of the machine. To this end frame l5 is supported from a car H33 having two pairs of flanged wheels IM and which ride in rails |06 and IM supported above the machine in any convenient manner, see Figure l. Wheels It may turn freely on axle lcd or may be attached thereto, the only requisite being that -the wheel and axle assembly is freely rotatable.

Wheels m4, however, are attached for free rotation at the ends of axle |99 and this axle, midway of its length, carries a keyed pinion lli) which is adapted to mesh with a rack which extends for the full length of the machine at a position midway between rails |06 and Il. The manner of driving car |03 through rack and pinion ltcan now be described. To this end, axle '|09 is provided with a keyed sprocket |l2 connected by a chain H3 with a sprocket llt on the rotor shaft of a motor ||5. Thus, upon rotation of motor lle', sprocket ||2 keyed to axle |09 will cause rotation of pinion lll, which, meshing with rack l l l, will pull the car |93 in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of pinion lili. By energizing motor H5, lthe car |53 is moved lengthwise of the spinning machine. It is desirable,however, that the lengthwise movement be controlled so that temporary collecting devices 'll and 8| will be moved a distance exactly equal to twice the distance between the centers of adjacent units. This controlled movement is effected by so arranging the diameter of pinion H8 that 360 of movement thereof will move the car exactly the desired distance. After completion of lthis movement, motor l5 is automatically de-energized and the inertia thereof automatically overcome. This is eifected through a timing disc t5 keyed to axle IBS adjacent pinion Thisv disc, as may be seen in Figure 2, is provided with a notch andserves to position a switch arm Il?. Disc lili is so disposed on axle |99 that the notch therein will be in registry with switch arm Vupon completion of the desired movement lengthwise of the machine. Thus, arm lll is normally held in a position to maintain the circuit to motor ||5 closed. It serves to open the circuit to motor H5, however, when in registry with the notch of disc It, and, at the saine time, through relays to operate a magnetic .brake H8 of a type similar to magnetic brake |132 previously described. Thus, motor H5 is automatically stopped. Initiation of rotation thereof is effected through switch arms ||9 and 12|) connested at the ends of along shaft |2| which andava 11 extends for the full width of the machine. Switch arms HSS-and |20 are disposed in a position to be conveniently operated from either side of the machine by pull cords. A linkage |22, |23, |24 connects shaft |2| with switch box |25 in which the various controls for both motors H and 9,3 are located, as well as the relays for the operation of the magnetic brakes. It can be seen that if the operator Pulls switch arm H6 and then immediately releases it, motor H5 will operate until the notch in disc I6 permits switch arm ||1 to open the circuit. At this point it will automatically stop. On the other hand, if the operator should hold switch arm H9 during the time that the notch in disc H6 and switch arm vH1 are in registry, motor H5 would continue to run. Thus, while the lengthwise movement of car |03 will normally occur stepwise, it can be controlled to any extent by the operator. Switch arm is used to drive motor ||5 in the other direction and is normally employed for returning the entire threading up assembly to one end of the machine after threading up has been effected.

Having now described the manner in which the machine is threaded up including the apparatus for transferring the free ends from the units H to their respective units |2, the details of the latter units will be discussed.

Each unit |2 consists of two rollers |26 and |21, supported at one end only, and having their. free ends extending generally horizontally. As in the case with lower roller 46 of unit H, lower roller |21 is mounted on a shaft which extends axially of the roller and is in a truly horizontal position. This shaft, designated by numeral |28, is provided with a driving gear |29 keyed thereto which meshes with a gear |30 keyed to a main drive shaft |3I. Drive shaft 3| is similar to drive shaft 50 and is provided with a plurality of gears |30, one for coaction witheach gear |29 for each of lower rollers |21. Each meshing pair of gears |29, |30 is disposed in a housing |32 xedly mounted on a portion of the mainframe of the machine. Housing |32 is provided with' a bearing |33 for supporting shaft |28.

' Upper roller |26 of the thread-storage, thread- "advancing unit l2 is likewise provided with an axially extending drive shaft, said shaft bearing the designation |34.

Shaft |34 is provided with a gear |35 which meshes with a gear |36 mounted on main drive shaft |31. Shaft |31 is similar in structure and function to shaft 56 and it is provided along its length with a number of gears |36 corresponding to the number of rollers |26.` The pairs of gears |35 and |36 are mounted in housings |38, each, of which extends for a considerable distance into the interior of a, roller |26. Housings |36 are elongated in this manner so that the bearings for shaft |34 are spaced apart a sufficient distance to insure rigidity of that shaft and to prevent wobbling movement of roller |26 in response to radial thrust. can be seen in Figure 1, this being designated by the numeral |39. Note that the elongated housing structure is likewise carried out in lower roller :26. The remaining portions of housings |32 and |30 will be hereinafter more fully described in conjunction` with the detailed construction of rollers |26 and |21.

It is contemplated that housing |38 be mounted for pivotal movement on tubular support |36a, the construction of which is conveniently identical to-the construction of tubular support 63 associated with housings 50. It is understood Only one bearing for shaft |34 that the angular disposition of shaft |34 may be varied by the employment of a construction such as that used in changing the angular position of shaft 55. Since the apparatus employed is identical to that used in conjunction with roller 45, further description thereof is deemed unnecessary. Note threaded shaft |40 which corresponds to similar shaft 64 and dust cap |4| through removal of which access to shaft |40 may be gained in order to adjust the angular disposition of roller |26. Housing |32, which corresponds to housing 5| on the other side of the machine, is mounted on a portion of the main frame in such a way that shaft |26 extends in a truly horizontal position. It will be recalled that the angular position of shaft 41 is not adjustable. This is also true of shaft |28.

It is, of course, necessary that each upper roller |26 and its corresponding lower roller |21 be driven at the same peripheral speed. It is likewise desirable that the takeup speed of unit I2 be approximately the same as the delivery speed of unit H. Upon reference to Figure 4, the manner of accomplishing this may be ascertained. In that figure, it can be noted that main drive shafts |3| and |31 are provided with gears |42 and |43, respectively. These gears are driven by gear |44 on a shaft |45, the opposite end of which carries a gear |46 in mesh with a gear |41 which rests against and meshes with driving gear 15. The latter, it will be recalled, serves also to actuate shafts and 50 to drive the component rollers of unit B y substitution of gears of various diameters in the gear train |44, |46, |41, it is possible to bring about any desired speed on the part of rollers |26 and |21 with respect to rollers 45 and 46. Since, however, all rollers |26 and |21 are driven from the same gear, |44, it is apparent that they will have identical peripheral speeds. Like the rollers 45 and 46, the rollers |26 and |21 are provided with liquid supply pipes 260 and 21|, and with liquid collecting troughs 214 and 211 respectively.

As has been previously stated, thread-storage, thread-advancing unit l2 is threaded up in the same manner as the respective unit H. On thread-storage, thread-advancing unit i2, the thread is subjected to further aftertreatments, and, when it leaves that unit, is in finished form It is then led directly to a ring twister mechanism, best shown in Figures l, 3 and 8 to 11, inelusive. The twist-er mechanism shown is largely conventional, being somewhat modified, however to t under unit |2 in the interest of space conservation. Twister spindles |3 are driven in pairs from belts |46 which pass over and are propelled by a cylindrical pulley |49 keyed to a power shaft |56 driven in any convenient manner, not shown. The usual idler pulleys |=5| are associated with belt |43 and a counterweighted belt tightener pulley |52 is employed. Each twister spindle |3 is provid-ed with the usual brake i 53 for localized stoppage of the spindle for the exchange of spools. The brake, itself, is conventional in form but is provided with novel engaging means consisting of a depending arm |54 cooperating with an upwardly extending arm |56 provided with a bifurcated end. Arm |55 is driven through a rod |56 provided with a curved operating surface |51 adapted to be engaged by the leg of the operator as he stands beside the machine. A spring |53 normally biases rod |56 and hence arm |55 to release position.'

Thus, depending arm |54 is normally biased in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1 thereby urging brake |53 away from the bottom of the spindle, arms |54 and brake arm |53 functioning mechanically as a bell crank. Upon reierence to Figure 7, it will be noted that operating surface |51 is disposed in registry with notched-out portions |59 of a grill work |60 serving as` a platform on which th-e operator may stand while threading unit I2. Grill work |69 is supported by braces I6I extending from the main frame of the machine. As can beseen in Figure 1, braces ISI constitute guide bearings for rod |56. The operator, on the other hand, stands on the ground floor of the operating room when twister spindle |3 is threaded up, and, as a consequence, the twister brake operating surface is located for manipulation from that level.

It is contemplated that the thread issuing from unit I2 will be delivered at a. rate approximating 60 to 100 meters a minute. Ring twisters, on the otherhand, are normally used with thread being pulled from a stationary package. As a consequence, it is impossible for an operator to thread up the traveler of a ring twister with a thread moving at a speed such as is here contemplated, the slack produced being so great as to cause substantial diiiiculty. For this reason, a novel device and method for threading up the ring twister has been provided. This device consists of a temporary collecting drum |62, driven through a very sensitive clutch, hereinafter more fully described, by an electric motor |63. The housings of electric motor |63 and drum |62 are fastened togetherto form a unitary Structure and that structure is provided with arms |64, |65 and |56 (Figs. 3 and 8) on the respective ends of which wheels are provided. These wheels are arranged to ride in tracks |61 and |58 ailxed to the moving traverse ring board, which, during twisting, Vis reciprccated in a vertical direction in a conventional manner. Tracks |61 and |68, in addition to supporting inotordrum assembly IGZ-|163 for movement therealong, act as conductors for the supply of electric current to motor |63. It is contemplated that motor |63 be a low voltage unit and that one of the poles be served through the machine while the other pole is isolated from the machine by the use of insulating material inthe mounting of one of the railsl |61, |58.

Referring now to Figure 8, it will be seen that a thread guide |69 supported by a rod |10. is located vertically above and. in alignment with twister spindle I3. When the twister traveler I1I is to be threaded, the operator leads the free end of thread issuing from roller |26 of threadstorage, thread-advancing unit I2 and wraps it around a cylindrical spool fitted over drumy |62 which has been caused to rotate by energizing motor |63. The driving arrangement between motor |63 and drum |52 is such that the takeup speed of drum |62 will be in excess of the delivery speed from thread-storage, thread-advancing unit I2, a drum takeup speed of approximately ve meters a minute in excess of the delivery speed from unit |2 being contemplated. Thus, the thread will be under very slight tension at this stage and will follow the path designated by the reference letter A in Figure 8. The operator thenpulls the thread A to the left, as viewed in Figure 8, and threads it through a guide |12 mounted on the motor-drum assembly and through guide |69 above the twister spindle. The thread is-then passed under traveler |1I. Once thisisdQne, the Athread is broken between twister traveler I1| and the drum, the free end being thrown into the rapidly rotating twister bobbin |13 mounted in spindle I3 shown in Figure 8. The relatively small amount of thread collected on the bobbin of drum may' be removed therefrom and discarded as waste. In order that the motordrum unit IGZ- |53 can be moved from spindle to spindle as the respective twisters associated with each unit |2 are threaded up,the wheel-rail assembly is provided. As a consequence, when one twister spindle has been served, the motor car is moved to the next adjacent one. At each unit, however, the motor is locked in operative position. This is done by means oi a lever |1d pivoted at |15 to the motor housing. Lever |1| is provided with an operating handle |16 and a pin |11, adapted for cooperation with holes |18 provided at spaced points along lower track ISB; When pin |11 is received in a hole H, the motor and drum unit is restrained against movement along the tracks. When it is to be moved, however, the handle |1| is pushed in toward the twister spindle thereby extracting pin |11 from hold |18 and allowing the device to be manually moved along the track to the next stage.

In order that drum-motor assembly |52 vand |63 need not be spotted at the various stations, pivot |15 includes a coil spring which normally urges pin |11 against rail |63. In this way, the operator may push handle I 16 in' toward themachine Yto extract pin |11, then release handle |16 and push the car along the track. When the next station is reached, pin |11 will be urged automatically into the next hole |18.

In Figures 2 and 8, a wire guide |19 can be seen extending from a portion of the motorV housing. .This guide is to insure that the thread is wound on drum |52 and cannot be accidentally wedged in 'between` the drum and the motor assembly to be engaged by moving parts.

Attention is directed to the fact that vthe various spindles I |3 are not located directly under the corresponding thread-storage, thread-advancing unit l2, see Figure 2. rIhe reason .for locating the twister spindles between adjacent units isa dual one. In the iirst place, more space is allowed for guides |69, and, secondly, and yof even greater importance, a relatively long path is provided between upper roller I2@ and the twister spindle. Since the last stage of aftertreatment normally consists of dryingthe thread,.by the application of heat, thereto, and since, according to this apparatus drying is to be eiected on rollers |25, the relatively long path between the said rollers and the associated'spindles IIS allows time for the thread to cool before twisting.

In Figures 910, and 1l, theinternal structure of collecting drum |62 and the driving connection between said drum and motor |63 is illustrated. It can be seen that drum |62 is in the form of a hollow cylinder supported from shaft I8@ extending from the housing of motor |63 and connected to the rotor of said motor by` suitable reduction gearing, not shown. Flangedspiders ISIv and |82 interiorly support drum |62,.said spiders `being spaced from shaft |39 by ball bearing assemblies |83 and |84. It is contemplated that drum |62 be made of hard rubber and be provided with a plurality of spring latches |35 for the :purpose of holding in position a thread collecting bobbin oi conventional form, not shown. rIhis is a matter of convenience, since waste yarn wound on the collecting bobbin can be removed from drumi |62 bysliding the bobbin axially ofi the-unsupported 1S end of the drum' without interference with the driving connections for the latter.

It can be seen that flanged spiders |8| and |82 do not establsh a driving connection between shaft |80 and drum |62. On the contrary,.these bearings merely serve to support the drum from the shaft in such a way that the two are freely relatively rotatable. At the free end of shaft |80 a small clindrical collar |86 is keyed in position by a screw key |81. Screw key |81 not only functions to key collar |88 for rotation with shaft |80, but likewise maintains said collar and the shaft against relative axial displacement. Above and below collar |86 arcuate brake shoes |88 and |89 are located` These shoes are disposed on the ends of metallic arms |90 and i 9| respectively, the other ends of said arms being pivotally connected to spider |32. From this it can be' seen that so long as brake shoes |88 and |89 are urged into engagement with collar |86 a driving connection is established from shaft |89 through the brake shoes and arms |98 and |9| to spider |82 and from thence to cylindrical drum |62.

It has been previously stated that the clutch required in this installation be extremely sensitive in operation. For this reason, means are provided for varying the load on brake shoes |88 and |89. Midway of the lengths of arms |90 and |9|, identical coil springs |92 and |93 are attached, these springs being connected to the free ends of' arms |94 and |95, respectively, the other ends of said arms being anchored by pins to spider |82, the anchorage being of a nature to permit pivotal movement about the pin. It is now evident that if arm |95 be rocked in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure l0,`and arm |94 be similarly moved, springs |93 and |92 will be extended to thereby increase the pressure on shoes |89 and |88 thereby increasing the frictional contact between said shoes and collar |86 to increase the power resistance differential necessary to cause slippage. The loading and unloading of springs |92 and 93 is accomplished by the employment of a cam |96 having faces of identical curvature disposed 180 apart. The i configuration of cam |96 may be readily viewed in Figure 10. Bearing against the surfaces of cam |96 are followers |91 and |98 connected to arms'l94 and |95, respectively. Thus, by rotation of cam |96 in a counterclockwise direction, as it is viewed in Figure 10, the distance of followers |91 and |98 from the center of shaft |80 may be increased.l Due to the fact that the two cam surfaces of cam |96 are identical in configuration, such movement will bring about an identical increase in loading of both of springs |92 and |93 tothereby increase the clutching effect between shoes |88 andy |89 and collar'l86.V The movement and maintenance of cam |96 in position is effected by apparatus shown in Figures 9 and l1. Cam |96 is connected for rotation with hub |99 provided with a square end 200. Square end 200 is received in a bushing 29| pressed within knurled cap 202. Thus, when cap 202 ris turned, the torque is transmitted to cam |96 directly through its hub |99. For maintaining the adjustment, a lock is effected between a flanged spider 203 and cap 282. Flanged spider 203 is marginally connected to drum |62 by three circumferentially spaced screws 204 while its hub portion is mounted for free rotation on the exterior of hub |99 of cam |95. As can be seen in Figure 11, the hub of spider 203 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced sockets 205, each of a size to accommodate a. pin 206. Pin

206i is'permanently mounted in cap 202 and is adapted to extend into any selected one of the sockets 295.V So that a connection may be maintained between cap 202 and spider 203 except during periods of adjustment, the cap is normally biased to the left, as viewed in Figure'Q, by a spring 201 mounted within a recess in hub |99. This spring normally urges a pin 288 to the left, as viewed in Figure 9, the shank of said pin being threaded into cap 202.y l

By'the arrangement just described, it is possible to quickly and conveniently vary the loading of springs |92 and |93 to any desired extent within the limits defined by the conguration of cam |96. Todo this, the operator grasps cap 202 and pulls it axially away from motor housing |63. This disengages pin 206 from one of the sockets 205 in spider 283. Thereafter, the cap is turned either 4to the'right 'or left, depending upon whether theloading of the springs |92 and |93 is to be increased or decreased. Since the springs are shown at the minimum loaded position in Figure l0, it is evident that the cam in that position may be turned only counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 10. When the desired adjustment is reached, it is only necessary to release cap 202 in any position such that the pin 206 is in registry with one of the sockets to allow spring .207 to draw the cap to locked position.

The eif'ect of the structure just described during the'threading up of a ring twister from a unit of a continuous spinning machine is that the peripheral speed of drum |62 may be set to a predetermined value is excess of the delivery speed of thread-storage, thread-advancing unit I2. This excess in speed will be effective, however, only so long as there is no resistance to rotation of drumy |62. When thread is wound around the bobbin,` which is fitted over drum |62, the tendency of lthe drum to take up faster than the thread-storage, thread-advancing Yunit delivers tends toload drum |62 so that resistance to turningmovement will. cause slippage of the clutch construction just described, thereby preventing breakage of thread while at the same time maintaining sufcient tension so that thread will be taut between the free end of the thread-storage, thread-advancing device and drum `|62 at all times. Similarly, 'as the build of thread on the bobbin surrounding drum |62 increases, and so tends to increase the takeup speed of the temporary collecting device, the clutch mechanism will slip to prevent thread breakage while sti-ll functioning to maintain the thread taut as shown in Figure 8 while the operator prepares to thread up twister spindle |3. The clutch mechanism just described may be used in temporary collecting devices 'l1 and 8| Ato avoid excessive tension of the thread during transfers from the units to the corresponding units l2 in threading up.

In Figures 12 and 13 there is shown a modified type of continuous spinning machine constructed according to this invention. The liquid treatment steps effected on this machine may be similar to those of the Figure 1 apparatus or may be varied in a manner to be hereinafter described.

As can be seen upon reference to Figure l2, the modified type of spinning machine is assembled in conjunction with a two-bath system in which bath troughs 300 and 30|, their'supporting framework302, and spinning pump assembly 303 are adapted from a conventional two-bath spinning layout. Bath troughs 300 and 30| extend continuously for the entire length of the machine, pump units 303 being provided at 17 spaced points along the lengthoftrough 300, each to serve a spinneret 304.

In the modified type of apparatus now under discussion, the thread follows much the same course as in the machine of Figure 1. The thread leaving a spinneret 30d in trough 300 is passed over a long path guiding device 305 and a godet 300. From godet 300 it may be led into the bath of trough 30a', and from thence to a thread-storage, thread-advancing device indicated generally at 301 or it may be led directly to said device. After device 301 is threaded up, by winding a thread band adjacent the supported end thereof as described in connection with device Il of Figure 1, the thread is led to a temporary collecting device '308 which is bodily moved to a position adjacent another thread-storage, threadadvancing device designated generally at 300. On this device further treatments are consummated. From there the thread is led to a colleoting device indicated generally at 310.

Guiding device 305 is of particular utility in conjunction with the spinning of viscose yarns, and is used to prolong the period that each succeeding portion of the thread is immersed in the acid spinning bath. As an example, guiding device 305 may be used to further advance regeneration to thereby modify certain characteristics of the yarn as for instance strength, elongation, chemical composition in the following stages of the process. structurally, guidance device 305 consists of two immersed grooved pulleys 3H and 3|2 mountedv for free rotation on studs 3|3 and 3M which in turn are carried by a brace SI5 mounted in a support 3|0 attached to the front edge of bath trough 300 and extending therein. When spinning is begun on the machine of Figures 29 and 30, device 305 is temporarily raised above the liquid level in trough 300 so that spinneret 303 is first led around pulley 3|| and then pulley 3|2 and so on until all of the plural grooves of these pulleys are occupied. Thereafter, the device is restored to normal position immersed in the bath of trough 300.

The godet consists of two rollers 3|1 and 3I8, the former of which is driven while the latter is mounted for free rotation. Roller 3|1 is keyed at 3|0 to a shaft 320 which extends into a housing 32| supported from the adjacent edges of troughs 300v and 30|. At the end of shaft 320, remote from the point of attachment to roller 3|1, gear 322 is attached. This gear meshes with a gear 323 at the upper end of a vertical shaft 324. The lower end of shaft 320 is also provided with a gear, the latter being designated -by the numeral 325. Gear 325 is adapted to mesh with one of a number of gears 320, attached at spaced points along a drive shaft 321 which extends for the full length of the machine. Shaft 321 is driven by any suitable source of power, not shown, through a conventional P. I. V. transmission and is adapted to drive each godet roller 3|1 through its'gear train 320, 325, 323 and 322.

Since godet roller 3|1 is adapted to operate in conjunction with liquid chemicals carried from the spinning bath by the thread, it is necessary to protect the driving gears therefor. To this end, roller 3|'1 is provided with a raised annular flange 328, coacting with a flange 32,0 to protect its hollow interior from corrosive liquids. Within this protected Zone a sleeve 330 is located, the sleeve being provided with anti-friction bearings for shaft 320. Since the sleeve is protected, liquid seepage into housing 32| is not possible. Hence gears 322 .and 323, their respec-tive shafts v ing 32|. as shown in Figure 30, a number of convolutions 18 and the bearings therefor, 'operate in a protected zone.

Freely rotatable roller 3|0 is mounted on ay stub shaft, the end of which is supported in hous- The godet 30B is threaded as a unit being wound around rollers 3l? and 3|8 to assist in preventing slippage. Note also that the surface of roller 3|?k is corrugated',` also in furtherance of the prevention of slippage.

After the thread leavesgodet 303, it may be led into a second bath located in trough 30|,

around an immersed freely rotatable roller 33|` and then to thread-storage, 'thread-advancing' In the latter case, of course, the thread is led directly from godet 306 to thread-storage, threadadvancing device 301. Similarly, device 3.05 may be omitted and the thread led directly Yto godet 300 and from thence either through the bath of trough 30| or directly toA thread-storage, thread-advancing device 3.01 dependent upon `the particular chemical treatment undertaken. -It will be understood that godet 303 must be driven in timed relationy with the spinning pump and hence it is connected with 321 by means of suitable drive mechanism.

Thread-storage, thread-advancing device 301 is similar in structure and operation to the corresponding unit of the continuous spinning machine of Figures l and 12. It isthreaded up in the same manner and it will cause axial feed of spaced connected coils of thread wound therearound. Unit 301'consists of two rollers 333 and 334| mounted on axially extending shafts 335 and 336 lying in th'e same vertical plane -which are supported at a common end. Each shaft is provided with sprocket 331 over which is trained an endless chain 333 so that both rollers will be driven at the same speed. The power source for driving rollers 333 and 334 through their respective shafts is a shaft 330 caused to rotate by any conventional means not shown. Shaft 340 is connected vby va sprocket and chain drive to a shaft 36| which extends for Vthe full 'length of the machine. At. spaced points along the length of shaftl 34|, gears 30.2 are. located, one being provided for cooperation with a corresponding gear 323 mounted for rotation with shaft 333. Thus, shaft 338 is caused to rotate and through chain 339 drives shaft 335 at an identical speed.

Hence' the peripheral speeds of rollers 333 and v 3,30 will be identical.

t will be recalled that lower roller 4 3 of unit i' is mounted with its axis extending truly horizontally while the axis of upper roller 45 extends generally horizontally but slopes in the direction ofthe unsupported' end of the unit. rlhis arrangement also prevails in conjunction with thread-storage,v thread-advancing unit 301. ,The shaft 330-for lower-.roller 334 is mounted in antifriction bearings 344 supported in fixed-position fromj a plate 3,05 bolted to frame 302. On the other hand, shaft v335 is mounted for movement ina vertical planeso that the angle of convergence ofthe axes ofrollers 333 and; S30-may be varied to produce varying coil spacings .of thread wound around Athe .two rollers.

Once the adjustment ofthe angleI of shaft 335 has been effected in a manner to cause coil spacing in conformity with the time factor of the treatment effected on thread-storage, thread-2 advancing unit 331, that unit is threaded up in the manner previously described in connection with unit |I, see Figure 1. The thread is passed from roller 33| in bath trough 33| to roller 332 adjacent the supported end of unit 301. From this roller it goes onto the thread-storage, threadadvancing unit and it leaves that unit adjacent a roller 365a. The thread is led around roller 365 and from thence to a roller 366 (Fig. 12) disposed adjacent the supported end of unit 399. As is' the case of .the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1, the apparatus ofFigure 12 compri-ses two units 301 and 339 which are disposed on opposite sides of the machine. Hence, it is difficult to pass the thread from roller 365a to roller 366, by solely manual means. As a consequence, a rocker arm 361 (Fig. 13) is provided for the purpose of moving a temporary collecting device 368 from a pointadjacent Vthe discharge end of unit 301 to a point adjacent the takeup end of unit 309. Arm 351 is mounted for pivotal movement about shaft 34|, anti-friction bearings 339 serving to connect the two. Within the housing defining arm 331 a pulley 310 (Fig. 13) is located, connected by a V-belt 31| with another pulley 312. This pulley is keyed to a shaft 313 which likewise carries a temporary collecting device 368. Thus, the rotation of shaft 34| is carried over to temporary collecting device 333. In View of the fact that pulley 31|) is somewhat larger than pulley 312, the peripheral speed of collecting device 368 is somewhat increased. The two connecting pulleys areso adjusted that the takeup speed of device 368 is justbarely in excess of the delivery speed of rollers 333 and 334 so that the thread will not slack during a threading up operation. Upon reference to Figure 13, it will be seen that a pair of stops 314 depend from the lower edge of arm 361. These members cooperate with a stop 315 attached in any convenient manner. to a portion of the machine frame so that arm 361 will, by gravity, always assume the same eXtreme positions, regardless of whether collecting device 398 is adjacent unit 331 or unit 339.

It can now be seen how temporary collecting device 368 is operated. 'Io move that device from its position adjacent unit 331 to the broken line position shown in Figure 12 adjacent the supported end of unit 309, a crank 316 (Figs. 12 and 13) is operated, this crank causing rotation of a sprocket 311, which, through a chain 318, operates a sprocket 319 keyed to the housing bearings of arm 361. It can be seen that rotation of crank 316 will cause the desired `movement to take place, the rockingA of arm 361 being entirely independent of pulleys 210, which, of course, is keyed to shaft 34|. Once the temporary collecting device 368 has been moved to the broken line position of Figure 12, the thread is broken adjacent that device and is led over roller` 363 after which time the coils are wound around the rollers of unit 339 in the manner previously described in conjunction with thread-storage, thread-advancing unit The thread shown leaving unit 339 (Fig. 12) is passed over roller 319a and from thence is led to collecting device 3|() of any conventional type, the illustration of Figure 12 being diagrammatic and intended to include a threadI supporting body driven at its periphery and used in conjunction with any conventional traverse n'hahismi for example, of the type'employed hand main frame generally designated at 386i.'

Bearings 385 are fixed, and shaft 383 carries a gear 381 which meshes with a gear 383 carried on a main drive shaft 383. Shaft 389 is similar in structure and function to shaft 34|, a plurality of gears 388 being provided at spaced points along its length, one for coaction with each gear 331. In this regard, it will be understood that a gear 331 is associated with each unit 389. In a manner similar to the arrangement shown in conjunction with unit 331, roller 336, through its shaft 382, is driven from shaft 333. The drive is a chain and sprocket one indicated generally at 336.

Again in the interest of controlling the space between adjacent coils on the thread-storage, thread-advancing unit, the upper shaft 382 ofunit 369 is rendered angularly adjustable. The adjustment is effected by pivotally attaching a plate 334a, which supports bearing 384, at a point 39|. Pivoted plate 394g, is provided, at a point remote from pivot point 39|, with an extending portion 332 onto which a threaded rod 333 is pivotally attached through a bifurcated member. Threadedrod 393passes throughk a bifurcated bracket 364 iixedly attached to main frame 336. Within the arms Vof bracket 333 a hand nut 335 is located. It can be seen that by turning nut 395, the length of threaded rod 393 between that nut and the point of pivotal attachment to projecting portion 392 is varied and that the effect of this variance will be to tilt the plate carrying bearings 384 in which shaft 382 is lodged.

A small sprocket located rearwardly of gear 338 drives a chain 396, which in turn drives a sprocket 391 carried on a stub shaft. The stub shaft also carries a pulley 333 which is connected by a belt 399 to a pulley mounted on a stub shaft with roller 366. Thus, roller 366 is driven through connections so adjusted that it has a takeup speed just a little in Vexcess of the delivery speed from unit 301. This assists in threading up when the closed coil is wound near the unsupported end of unit 309 in a manner hereinbefore described. If unit 369 is threaded upbywinding a closed coil adjacent the supported end of component rollers thereof, there may be some diiculty in conjunction with bath trough 406. As a consequence, that trough is supported on a bar 49| which is pivoted at 402 to main frame 38.3.' Approximately midway between pivot point 432 and the free end of trough 463 an L-bracket 463 is attached to bar 49|. Against this bracket a roller 494 is normally pressed through a bell crank 435 pivoted at 436 to a portion of frame 386.- Roller` 404 is attached at the free end of one arm ofthe bell crank while the free end ofthe arm is provided withpan operating handle 401. When operating 'handle 491 is moved forward as viewed in Figure 12, trough 460 is lowered to the broken line posi tion. The movement is limited by a stop 408 eX- tending from a portion of frame 386.

It is contemplated that a device for tilting the trough under roller 334 likewise be provided. Of course, the lower troughs in Figure 12 may be stationary and the short trough arrangement previously described in connection with Figure 1 can then be used.

Because of the fact that a two-roller threadstorage, thread-advancing device supported at one end only may be threaded up with great convenience, it is contemplated that all forms of the present invention be so arranged.

Modification of the process and the apparatus will readily be foreseen by those skilled in the art, and I desire to include all modifications and variations coming within the scope of the appended claims.

This is a division of my application Serial No. 450,934, led July le, 1942, entitled Process and apparatus for the manufacture of synthetic yarn.

I claim:

1. In the production and packaging of thread by the method which includes forming a thread, leading the thread continuously over a plurality of separate rotary treating devices in succession spaced at a substantial distance from each other but constituting a unitary continuous spinning apparatus on which the thread is subjected to successive treatments for ultimate collection in treated final form in a package, the method of initially transferring the thread from one rotary treating device to the next succeeding device which includes leading said thread over a first rotary treatment device, temporarily collecting the thread in a waste bundle on an independently rotated separate collecting device temporarily disposed adjacent said rst rotary treating device, maintaining the oncoming thread under tension while it is being so temporarily collected and, while so collecting the thread, bodily moving said collecting device while it is rotating and performing its collecting function into position adjacent the next succeeding rotary treatment device located at a distance from said first device and on which the thread is to be applied for subjection to continued further treatment, separating the oncoming thread from the Waste bundle and directing it onto said other rotary treating device to which the collecting device has been moved and removing the waste bundle, said thread being kept under tension from the time of its formation until the time that it is placed on the second treating device.

2. In the production and packaging of thread by the method which includes forming a thread,

leading the thread continuously over a plurality of separate rotary treating devices in succession, and a nal twisting and collecting device all spaced at a substantial distance from each other but operating in co-relation with and constituting a unitary continuous spinning machine on which the thread is subjected to a plurality of successive treatments for ultimate collection in treated and twisted final form in a package, the method of initiating the operation of the machine comprising leading said thread over` a rst rotary treating device, temporarily collecting the thread issuing from said device in a waste bundle on an independently rotated separate collecting device temporarily disposed adjacent said flrst rotary treating device, maintaining the oncoming thread under tension while it is being so temporarily collected, and while so collecting the thread, bodily moving said collecting device while it is rotating and performing its collecting function into position adjacent another rotary treating device of the same machine located at a distance from said iirst device and to which the thread is to be applied and on which it is to be subjected to further treatment, separating the oncoming thread from said Waste bundle, directing the thread to said other rotary treating device to which the collecting device has been moved,directing the treated thread issuing from the said last named rotary treating device to another separate rotating collecting device temporarily disposed adjacent said last named treating device and movable between said device and a twisting and collecting device and collecting it in a waste bundle, bodily moving said last named collecting device while it is rotating and performing its collecting function into position adjacent said twisting and collecting device, separating the oncoming thread from the waste bundle and directing the thread onto said twisting and collecting device, said thread being continuous and being kept constantly under tensionafter being formed and while being applied to all of the aforesaid devices.

3. In the production and packaging of thread by the method which includes forming a thread, leading the thread continuously over a plurality of sets of rotary treating devices in succession and a final twisting and collecting device each treating device being composed of at least two treating cylinders over which the thread is passed in helical formation, said devices being spaced at a substantial distance from each other but operating in co-relation with and constituting a unitary continuous synthetic thread spinning machine on which the thread is subjected to a plurality of treatments for ultimate collection in treated and twisted final form in a package, the method of initiating the operation of the machine comprising leading said thread over a rst set of said rotary treating devices, temporarily collecting the thread in a waste bundle on an independently rotated separate collecting device temporarily disposed adjacent said rst set of rotary treating devices, maintaining the oncoming thread under tension while it is being so temporarily collected, and while so collecting the thread, bodily moving said collecting device while it is rotating and performing its collecting function into position adjacent another set of rotary treatment devices of the same machine located at a distance from said rst set and to which the thread is to be applied for subjection to continued further treatment, separating the oncoming thread from said waste bundle directing the thread to said other set of rotary treating devices to which the collecting device has been moved, directing the treated thread issuing from said last named set of rotary treating devices to another separate rotating collecting device temporarily disposed adjacent said last named set of treating devices and movable between said devices and a twisting and collecting device and collecting it in a waste bundle, bodily moving said last named collecting device while it is rotating and performing its collecting function into position adjacent said twisting and collecting device, separating the thread from the waste bundle directing the thread through the twisting device and directing the twisted thread onto a rotating nal packaging device operativelt7 associated with said machine, said thread being kept constantly underl tension after being formed and while being applied to all of the aforesaid treating, collecting and packaging devices. Y

HERBERT O. NAUMANN. 

